This week's episode is a little different. I realized that after 17 episodes I haven't told you much about who I am, my story, and how I got to be so passionate about beauty. So, this week I take some time to tell you about my own experience of beauty: what's brought me life, what's been toxic, and how I'd love for you to join the Impossible Beauty movement.

Steve Wiens is a spiritual teacher, writer, and pastor who has authored three books, entitled Beginnings, Whole, and most recently Shining Like the Sun: Seven Mindful Practices for Rekindling Your Faith. Steve also hosts a weekly podcast called This Good Word.

Because of Steve’s thoughtful approach to faith, my conversation with him around authentic beauty is fascinating. In our time together, we talk about what it means to awaken to God and, so, awaken to the very real Beauty that is generative, communal, and very much alive and well in our midst.

Hannah Rose Thomas is a gifted English artist, who has found a way to integrate her art and humanitarian work, largely painting portraits of those whom have been persecuted. She desires to use art as a tool for advocacy, bringing a voice to the voiceless into places of influence in the West.

As a whole, my conversation with Hannah and her beautiful work remind me, and reminds us, of the enduring beauty of the human soul and the eternal beauty of the Divine.

Marissa is a PhD candidate in Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She also works as a research assistant to Kristin Neff. In her work, Marissa focuses on exploring how self-compassion acts as a source of resilience for healthy body image and stress management. Her dissertation, in particular, examines whether or not a self-compassion writing intervention helps college students reduce body image concerns.

Marissa offers so much wisdom here: how to relate to our bodies, others, and ourselves from a place of compassion and kindness. Her words and insights are such a strong and beautiful contrast to the world’s often-unforgiving beauty standards.

Rob Bell has authored ten books, including the New York Times bestselling titles, What We Talk About When We Talk About God, The Zimzum of Love, Love Wins, and What Is The Bible? Rob also hosts a weekly podcast called the The Robcast. He has also toured with Oprah, has been profiled in the New Yorker, and in 2011, he was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in Time Magazine.

Needless to say, I am so honored that Rob took the time to talk with me about authentic beauty. As I had predicted, in my time with him, he totally opened my heart and my mind to the depths and possibilities of true beauty in a new way. I think you’ll like this one. A lot.

For years I have connected with the heart, beauty, and honesty of the Grammy-nominated band, Gungor. I recently had the chance to speak with Lisa Gungor of the musical duo. Lisa is a gifted singer/songwriter who now writes music for her solo career, “Isa.” Lisa also recently released her first book entitled The Most Beautiful Thing I’ve Seen: Opening Your Eyes to Wonder. In her book, Lisa details formational events in her family life; the beautiful, the painful, and how all of it has transformed her.

In my time with Lisa, she vulnerably speaks about seeing beauty in all things, including in life’s broken places and within herself.

A leader sets the tone for the culture of a community. A leader models the ethos of a place and of a community. This could certainly be said of Dr. Donna Harris, president of Minnehaha Academy, a private K-12 Christian school in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

On August 2, 2017, unexpected tragedy befell the over century-old school when an explosion leveled the middle portion of the Academy’s high school. In the midst of losing two beloved employees and the ensuing grief and uncertainty, Dr. Harris forged ahead in wisdom, fortitude, and faith. That same steadfast faith characterized my time with Dr. Harris. In our time together, she spoke of how to see beauty at work in the wake of tragedy and how a community can emerge from such an event with renewed vigor for loving one another well.

Becca Stevens is an Episcopal priest, speaker, author, social entrepreneur, and founder and president of Thistle Farms. Simply put, Thistle Farms makes natural bath, body, and home products. But this beautiful initiative does so much more than that. Thistle Farms employs and empowers female survivors of trafficking, violence, and addiction. The organization provides free housing, medical care, therapy, and education for two years, while women earn an income through one of three social enterprises.

Becca inspires me to see that true beauty is revealed in loving acts.  And Becca’s beauty shines so brightly as she continues to provide a loving space for women to heal and to grow. As they say at Thistle Farms, “love heals”…and that is a beautiful thing.  

Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist. His art has been featured in galleries and museums around the world and is represented by Waterfall Mansion in New York City and Artrue International in Asia. Fujimura is also an arts advocate, speaker, and has written several books, including Refractions, Culture Care, and Silence and Beauty. He is recognized worldwide as a cultural influencer and currently serves as the Director of Culture Care Initiative at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Lydia Fujimura is a human resources professional and a lifelong student of human psychology and behavior. She holds a Masters degree in Organizational Psychology.  Lydia has also worked alongside a nonprofit group called Telos, which is dedicated to peacemaking efforts among polarized people groups.

Jennifer Moore comes alongside women in crisis at Tandem in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tandem is an organization that provides a community of hope and practical help for women undergoing a variety of struggles.

The work Jennifer does is so important, coming alongside women during some of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives. What's even more amazing is how Jennifer does her work, the heart she has for the women she works with and the steadfast hope she carries for them, and with them.

Katelyn Beaty is an advocate for women, helping them take hold of their true identity. She is the author of A Woman’s Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home, and the World, she was Christianity Today’s youngest and first female managing editor, and Katelyn launched a website for the magazine called Her.meneutics, created for female writers.

Katelyn’s voice is articulate and powerful, speaking to the intersection of faith and culture in publications such as The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The New York Times. Her insights on beauty are so inspiring and I know you’ll feel the same way.

Sarah Groves is an extremely gifted singer, songwriter, and recording artist who has been nominated for 7 Dove Awards. Sarah also does important work alongside International Justice Mission, advocating for victims of human trafficking.

Sarah's beautiful voice has this amazing way of speaking to the soul's deepest longings, struggles, and hopes. In my time with Sara, I talked with her about beauty and what it means to search for and understand beauty in the midst of the sometimes very broken human experience.

Greg is a recognized theologian, teacher, pastor and co-founder of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has authored or co-authored 22 books.

While Greg’s credentials are impressive, what has most impacted me is his belief in and teaching on the unconditional and incomprehensible love of God. So, if beauty truly is “the life of God at work in us and around us,” it makes all the difference if the character of that God is entirely good and loving. Greg’s teaching on that kind of love has changed my faith and, so, my life.

Bob Goff is a self-proclaimed “recovering lawyer” and author of two New York Times best selling books: Love Does, Everybody Always. He also hosts conferences worldwide to encourage people to find and follow their dreams and has established Love Does the organization, dedicated to helping change the lives of women and children around the world.

He believes that love isn’t a concept, but an action, and he makes that apparent in everything he does.  I experienced that firsthand, as Bob recently took some time to sit down with me to talk about beauty.

Renae Regehr is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in Vancouver and is the founder of Free to Be Talks, a non-profit committed to promoting positive body image among youth, parents, and educators via education in schools, speaking events, and media.

Renae’s voice and her work are inspirational; her message is for all of us who live in the age of media and technology. Renae helps us disarm the appearance-related pressures in today’s media and find a more holistic, life-giving way forward.

Julia Attalla, D. Min, is the Executive Director of After Hours Ministry in south Los Angeles, California. Julia also serves as the Director of Ministry Program at Fuller Theological Seminary. Above all, I see Julia as an advocate for hope. In our time together, Julia taught me the pivotal role of hope and bravery in the midst of life’s brokenness. And how when we persevere in hope and bravery, beauty can grow exponentially. In our lives and in the lives of others.

Allison is a writing coach and author. She has written over a dozen books, including her most recent book Indestructible: Leveraging Your Broken Heart to Become a Force of Love and Change in the World. I met Ally at a writer’s conference she was hosting in Nashville, Tennessee. There, she brought back to life some pivotal things within me. She reminded me of the power of story and the power of creativity. In my interview with Ally, she tells a bit about her own story: her experience with heartbreak, surrender, and the beauty she’s found amidst it all.

I was 23-years-old when I was first introduced to Erin Gruwell’s story in the 2007 feature film Freedom Writers. I remember being enamored with Erin’s story; how she used writing as a tool for healing and bridge building in a Long Beach, California English classroom filled with at-risk youth and racial tensions in light of the Rodney King riots. Not only did 100% of Erin’s students go on to graduate from high school, but they also became co-authors of the New York Times bestselling book, The Freedom Writers Diary.

I had so many “aha” moments interviewing Hillary McBride, it’s hard to know where to begin summarizing our time together. Hillary is a Vancouver-based researcher, therapist, and doctoral student. She is also the author of Mothers, Daughters, and Body Image: Learning to Love Ourselves As We Are and is featured on “The Liturgists” podcast and “Other People’s Problems.”

If you have ever struggled with body image or are a mom wanting to pass along positive messages around body image to your daughter, this one is for you.